Page 15 of Come Out, Come Out, Wherever You Are

“Well, at least you’re back,” Max said behind me, still gripping my shoulders. Dustin watched me closely, leaning with his back beside Nate against the lockers. Outwardly, I gave nothing away, but I was a mess inside. My heart thundered uncomfortably in my chest, my hands were clammy, and my throat felt clogged with dread.

Just then, the bell rang, startling the bejesus out of me. The others set off walking, but I stayed behind. I wasn’t alone. Nate lingered, too.

Raking his eyes down my body, he pushed off the lockers, his tongue darting out to trace his lip as he closed the small distance between us.

I held my breath.

“Did you think I was dead, little killer?” he whispered, towering over me, his scent wrapping around me in masculine notes of leather, pine, and something uniquely him.

Stepping back out of instinct, my spine met the lockers behind me, eliciting a small gasp from my lips.

Nate followed and caged me in with his hands on either side of my head. We looked like a couple from the outside, but if anyone saw his eyes now, they’d see them burn with the need for revenge.

“Did you think I would stay buried?”

“What do you want?” My shaky voice betrayed me.

Reaching out, the backs of his fingers traced over my cheek in a deceptively gentle touch.

“What do I want?” he echoed, searching my face with enough intensity to coil around my heart like the vines of a predatory plant in an enchanted forest. I couldn’t breathe or think when he touched me like this. I wanted to run far away to escape his hold on me, but I also wanted to drift closer and fall under his spell. Nate had me right where he wanted me—dancing to his tune.

“I’ll tell you what I want,” he whispered darkly, his smoky voice caressing my senses.

Leaning closer, he slid his warm hand around my neck and dug his fingers into my skin, demanding my attention. “It’s simple. You left me for dead that rainy night. You were a selfish bitch who didn’t care about anyone but yourself.”

“That’s not true,” I replied, but his grip tightened on me in warning. I sucked in a breath, gazing into his stormy eyes.

“I’m going to ruin you, little killer. I’m going to destroy everything and everyone you love, and only then will I kill you.”

My heart stalled in my chest and I darted my gaze from left to right, looking for anyone to save me. The gray lockers stretched the length of the empty hallway, with no students or teachers in sight. I was at Nate’s mercy.

When his lips brushed up against mine and his heated breath danced over my lips, my knees nearly buckled. “Look at me, Skyler.”

I had no choice but to fall hostage to his overpowering presence. Nate could command my body like none other. I had always found him attractive, but this was different. Now I needed him to punish me. Fear urged me to press my damp palms against the locker and hold my breath while every inch of his warm body pushed up against mine.

“My eyes will be the last you ever see.”

“Leave me alone,” I bit out, angry with myself for being this affected by him.

Cupping my chin, his long fingers dug in until I whimpered. “I never saw you before. You were a boring and bland wallflower, but now I know what an evil, vile little thing you are. I can’t wait to break you.”

Shoving me back, he smirked at me one last time before striding down the empty hallway.

When he turned the corner, I released a choked sob. Nate was back from the dead and wouldn’t stop until he’d exacted his revenge. Nothing would quench his thirst until my shattered, broken pieces lay scattered at his feet.

Evelyn dragged me to Alice’s house that evening to celebrate Nate’s return. It was a school night and we had exams the following morning, but no one cared when the town’s dead quarterback had returned to cause more injury to my already damaged heart.

Alice lived in a two-story house with window shutters and a white picket fence. She was the golden girl with the rich Daddy and a mother who baked cookies and took their poodle to dog shows.

Seated on the couch, I stared at the many certificates lining the wall behind the large TV, while Nate burned a hole in the side of my face from his spot on the armchair. Despite the cold sweat on my neck, I pretended I didn’t notice or that it didn’t bother me.

Alice, wearing a skimpy rose-colored dress, was back on his lap, leaning against his broad chest and talking to her friend on the couch across from mine. It was almost as if Nate had never been gone. But back then, he didn’t look at me twice. I didn’t even register on his radar, and now he refused to look away.

The others were oblivious to the tension in the room while they chatted animatedly.

Alice’s nasally voice broke through my thoughts. “Skyler is dating Dustin.”

Snapping my gaze in her direction, I frowned.

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